ISSUE 20, FALL 2014 INSIDE

Page 2 Executive Director’s message Keiki Café The Poi Pounder Backpack Page 3 Kupaʻa Kokua Kupuna (Seniors) Say Hello to our New Logo! Mahalo Spring Food Design and Inspiration Drive Sponsors Independence is what makes the Kauaʻi Inde- Page 4 Mahalo Dine Out For pendent Food Bank different. From its foun- Hunger Participants dation (the root), the Kauaʻi Independent Holiday 2014 Food & Food Bank is strong, branching off into its Fund Drive communities to provide healthy foods for the Quick Fact: needy and create healthy living. The growing The Kauaʻi Independent tree means that the Kauaʻi Independent Food Food Bank is the only Food Bank continues to look towards creative pro- Bank in the State that is ac- grams to reach and provide healthy foods to credited by the Better our Kauaʻi communities. Business Bureau, meeting all The logo conveys a strong foundation (acronym KIFB) with the “I” being the trunk 22 of the charitable standards of the tree, branching off as it bears fruits. The “I” also symbolizes a person or its independence of other food banks.

The colors of the logo are emerald green and rich orange: Green: natural, healthy and fresh Orange: fruity, warm, bright and welcoming (Logo Design by J.kanna design, LLC)

Message from the President Born out of Hurricane Iniki (a Category 5 storm) in 1992, and initially operated by volunteers, the Food Bank was incorporated in 1994 and in 1995 was formally established as a 501(c) (3) nonprofit or- ganization, providing our community with 20 years of uninterrupted service. We were steadfast in our mission from the beginning and that continues till today. Our doors remain open, answering the call to action, “changing the face of hunger”. Four years ago, Kauai Food Bank, Inc., applied for a trade name, and we are now doing business as Kauai Independent Food Bank (KIFB). Knowing that the children will always need our help, we expanded our Keiki Café to now thirteen locations around the island. In our Backpack program, each youth receives an unmarked Backpack each Friday for the child and their siblings with food for the weekend. This is just a small step in our efforts to help in “changing the face of hunger”. Our Kokua Kupaʻa Kupuna program assists seniors from the Senior Centers, who stop at the KIFB once per month and receive nu- tritious food at no cost. We are so pleased that they are being helped. More information on these programs overleaf! The Uluwehi Emergency Food provides those residents in the direst need the opportunity to receive emergency food to accommodate their needs for 2-3 days. Visualizing those who overcome the fear of asking makes one think twice of what you have. It grips my whole being when I hear “have you any food that I can have, I am hungry”. Yet, this is asked on Kauai more than we realize. Also, over 40 agencies distribute our food bank products throughout Kauai. Although KIFB is an independent food source for the hungry, we are dependent on the many friends and partners on Kauai and the mainland who understand what we do and join us in support of our mission. We are so grateful to every- one who believes in us and who dedicate their time and effort in helping us. Through our Growing Food Together and Gleaning programs, we are recipients of fresh produce from local farmers and generous individuals who have dedicated their acreages of fruit trees to us for our programs. It is the combination of all of the foregoing that makes us successful. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we extend our hand of thanks to each of you for your support. We continue to look to you to be a KIFB partner, and sincerely thank you. In appreciation, Rowena B .Cobb Rowena B. Cobb, President THE POI POUNDER P A G E 2

Executive Director’s Message

Aloha! First of all, I would like to thank the Kauai Independent Food Bank (KIFB) Board of Directors for their support in the mission of the food bank to “educate, provide nutritious food for the hungry, and re- spond to emergencies”. Our board is very engaged and involved in wise decision-making that help us in continually moving forward in fulfilling our mission. I want to also thank my staff: Carol Beardmore - Managing Director, Rizaldy Tolentino - Warehouse Supervisor, Leona Perez - Program Coordinator, Melanie Goto – Administrative Assistant, Elliott Brooks – Assistant Accountant, and Randell Giminiz – Driver, for their dedication to KIFB in support of our programs that help feed keiki to kupuna across the island. Since I took over as Executive Director in January of this year, I have seen first-hand how the KIFB has been blessed with overwhelming support from not only our entire Kauai community, but also our many friends and supporters on the main- land. From individuals, businesses, corporations, County, State and Federal employees – we are indeed fortunate. Without you we wouldn't be able to provide nutritious food for our programs. We are really excited to report that, yet again, we have been accredited by the Better Business Bureau for 2015, meeting all 22 of their charitable standards. The Kauai Independent Food Bank continues to be the only food bank in the State of Hawaii accredited by the BBB. As we approach the holiday season, we humbly ask for your consideration once again to Kelvin A. Moniz support our KIFB Holiday Food Drive September 15 to December 31, with nutritious food Kelvin A. Moniz and monetary donations to help our important programs. Mahalo! Executive Director

Keiki Café

“The Food Bank helps the Boys and Girls Club of Lihue Clubhouse by provid- ing healthy snacks that will keep me and the other kids healthy. Thanks to the Food Bank, the healthy snacks give us more energy. Thank you Food Bank for giving us a chance to make and live a healthier lifestyle.” Raiden, Gr. 7 We love to receive comments such as this from our participants! Our Keiki Café touches so many lives on Kauai. Five days per week throughout the school year, disadvantaged children aged 7-17 participating in our program partners after-school activities receive a nutritious Super Snack, e.g., granola bar, string cheese, apple or banana, etc. Appealing activities are also offered which encourage physical activity, healthy eat- ing, learning about the food pyramid and overall healthy living habits, all while in a safe, structured and supervised envi- ronment. The program is currently in 13 locations in Kekaha, Waimea, Eleele, Kalaheo, Koloa, Lihue, Kapaa and Kilauea. We extend our thanks to our program partners – The Boys and Girls Clubs, YWCA Girl Zone, Kamaʻaina Kids and DOE A+ staff. We are currently serving 16,000 Super Snacks per month to our Keiki Cafe participants.

Backpack For some of our disadvantaged Kauai keiki, their school lunch may be the only meal they eat all day. Each Friday throughout the school year, we provide an unmarked Backpack to each qualifying child filled with nutritious food for the child and their siblings for the weekend, supplementing their sparse weekend diet. We have partnerships with two charter schools in Kekaha whose student enrollment is nearly exclusively Native Hawaiian keiki from Niihau, the char- ter school in Hawaiian Homelands in Anahola, and also the Boys and Girls Club in Kapaa. The unmarked Backpacks are provided to qualifying keiki to take home for the weekend, in the following locations: Ke Kula Niihau O Kekaha (Niihau Public Charter School); Kula Apuni Niihau a Kahelelani Aloha (Niihau Public Charter School); Kanuikapono (Anahola Public Charter School); Kapaa Clubhouse – through the Boys & Girls Club Kapaa. We are currently furnishing over 570 Backpacks each month to our keiki through the Backpack Program. ISSUE 20, FALL 2014 P A G E 3

Kupaʻa Kokua Kupuna (Seniors)

Older Kauai residents are often the quiet segment of our community frequently receiving less attention than other community groups. Yet many seniors face significant challenges to their health and well-being, including insufficient income, transportation, health care and food, especially nutritious food. The KIFB has made considerable efforts to develop this program to assist seniors aged 60 and over. The seniors from the Senior Centers go on an excursion and stop at the KIFB, supplementing their diets with 10 to 15 pounds each of fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, healthy canned goods and other nutritious items at no cost to the seniors. We operate this program in collaboration with the County of Kauai Agency on Elderly Affairs, for senior citizens at the County senior centers and also the 2 Alu Like senior centers at Anahola and Waimea. Split into weekly groups, the seniors visit the KIFB once per month. Home-bound seniors in the Anahola area are being assisted through Ka Hale Pono as their representative shopper. With the dramatic rise in obesity and diabetes, good nutrition is vital to health, particularly in the aging population. We are help- ing to meet this need with our nutritious food distribution. We are currently serving approximately 110 seniors per month.

Specialty Balloons

Mahalo to our Spring Food Drive Sponsors

Anahola Prince Kuhio Day Kapaa Shores Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas Aqua Engineers Kauai ATV Wilcox Elementary School Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle Kauai Dance Studio Wilcox Memorial Hospital School Kauai Marriott Ohana Dept. of Human Services—Vocational Child Welfare Services King Kaumualii Elementary School Rehabilitation Office County of Kauai Koloa Elementary School The Point at Poipu Kukui Grove Center Eleele Elementary School Lihue Baptist Church Volunteers County Fire Departments Macy’s Grand Hyatt Kauai Manu Kai First Hawaiian Bank Hanalei Bay Resort Matson Kauai Community College Hospitality Harley Davidson Mokihana Hotel Class Irons Brothers Surf Competition Sheraton Kauai Resort Kauai High School Key Club Kaeo Kai St. Regis Princeville Resort Kauai High School LEO Club Kapaa Elementary School State Child Welfare Services

Kukui Grove Center Grove Kukui

Kauai on

KIFB warehouse in Nawiliwili, or at any Fire Station Station Fire any at or Nawiliwili, in warehouse KIFB Kmart Big

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The holidays are a wonderful time of the year, gath- year, the of time wonderful a are holidays The appreciated! and needed are Volunteers

December 31 December – 15 September Oct 4 from 9:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M 3:00 to A.M. 9:00 from 4 Oct

Drive Food Holiday Day Drive Food Holiday

Mahalo to our 7th Annual Dine Out For Hunger Participants Hunger For Out Dine Annual 7th our to Mahalo

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE RETURN

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LIHUE, HI 96766 HI LIHUE,

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PERMIT NO. 108 NO. PERMIT

96766 HI Lihue,

U.S. POSTAGE PAID POSTAGE U.S.

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Kauai Independent Food Bank Food Independent Kauai